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This is the estimated number of women who participated in the Women’s March in the U.S. in January. It was one of the largest single-day demonstrations the United States has ever seen. Feminists packed not only the streets of Washington, D.C. but also cities all across the U.S. and other parts of the world, including Europe, Africa and even Antarctica. Feminists are trying harder and harder to make their voices heard, but what really is feminism and what are they truly fighting for?

WAVES OF FEMINISM

The first wave of the feminist movement came during the late 19th and early 20th century when the suffragettes emerged to gain more political power for women. Women across the United Kingdom and the United States then began fighting for equal contract and property rights; they wanted to gain sexual, reproductive and economic freedom from their husbands. Once women realized that this was going to be a long uphill battle, they shifted their efforts to one topic in particular: the right to vote.

The second wave of feminism came during World War II, when there was a need for women in the workforce. Many associate this wave of feminism with Rosie the Riveter and her “we can do it” slogan. The United States was trying to rebuild itself after the destruction of the war, and women took this as an opportunity to rebuild the views and opinions of women as well. Women confronted the ideas of sexuality, family and reproductive rights. Women in the workplace who were overlooked in the first wave made themselves known.

The third wave of feminism continues today. Some people believe we have reached a point where women’s rights are equal to those of men and that there is no need for feminism anymore. However, most feminists would disagree, saying that they are still on the uphill battle to total equality. Improvements to the equal rights amendment, equal pay and abolition of traditional gender roles are just a few of the modern inequalities that feminists today are fighting for with protests such as the Women’s March and A Day Without Women.

Feminists may look back and see that they have made great strides from where they once were, but they believe they still have a ways to go.

So what is Feminism?

Feminism is defined by the Webster online dictionary as “the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.” Ask most feminists, though, and they’ll give you a more nuanced definition.

Betty Freidan, author of “The Feminine Mystique” and activist during the second wave of feminism, wrote, “A girl should not expect special privileges because of her sex, but neither should she ‘adjust’ to prejudice and discrimination.”

This idea of focusing on women and equality is the traditional view of feminism. However, now as we see women climbing the ladder of equality and see more women rising to power, the definition is changing to equality for all.

Brigid Ernst, a completion coach at Grand View University, describes feminism as “being able to have the same choices and opportunities as everyone else.”

Meanwhile, Morgan Abbas, a GV student, said that feminism is the fight for equal rights and opportunities for men and women.

“It’s a movement that seeks to empower women as well as fight against toxic masculinity,” Abbas said.

This means they strive for a world in which every man, woman and child is given fair treatment and opportunities in life. Because feminism contains the prefix feminine, many would assume that it’s geared entirely toward women, but the feminists I spoke to made it very clear that feminists advocate for equality for all.

What does it mean to be
a Feminist?

If someone says the word “feminist” to you, do you picture a muscular, man-hating woman who hasn’t shaved her legs in a year and is picketing an Urban Outfitters because they only have one female executive? There are radical feminists such as these who exist, but this is a very stereotypical and narrow view of what a feminist believes. The reality is that feminists come from all walks of life.

Gloria Steinem, author of “My Life on the Road” and current feminism activist, writes “Feminism has never been about getting a job for one woman. It’s about making life more fair for women everywhere. It’s not about getting a piece of the existing pie; there are too many of us for that. It’s about baking a new pie.”

For current feminists like Steinem who have participated in recent protests, being a feminist isn’t just about changing men’s views on women. It is changing women’s views on what they can do and who they can become.

       Amy Getty, an English professor at Grand View and long-time feminist, said the feminist movement has attracted a diverse range of men and women over the years.

“Traditionally, feminists have been middle-class white women, but today we are intersectional,” she said. “We don’t just fall into one race or one class; we stretch across all demographics.”

A feminist does not have to be a woman either; men can also show their support for equality. Many famous men have stepped forward showing their appreciation and support for feminism. Among them are Daniel Radcliffe, David Schwimmer, Mark Ruffalo, John Legend, Seth Meyers, Ryan Gosling, Andy Samberg, Ian Somerholder, Will Smith, Ashton Kutcher and even Barack Obama.

For Paul Brooke, professor at Grand View University, being a male feminist means “not just saying we support equal rights for women but actually putting money where our mouths are and doing something about it.”

Where does a Non-Feminist Stand?

Some people do not like to share their opinions on feminism due to of fear of backlash for supporting or not supporting the movement. Some women fear they may be looked down upon by other women for not supporting the cause or looked down upon by men for supporting the cause.

The truth is, there are women who do not want to be associated with the word feminist because of some of the negative stereotypes that surround it or just do not see a use for feminism anymore.

Savannah Wood, a GV student, grew up in a household where feminism was looked down upon, which ultimately shaped how she looks at the issue now.

“There are really good aspects about (feminism), and it has brought women far; but it has taken a turn that is too extreme now,” Wood said.

Wood is not the only one who believes feminism is not as much of a necessity today as it was in the 1900s for the simple fact that women do not have to be homemakers and breadwinners anymore. Women may not be put on a pedestal and made to be trophy wives and mothers. Instead, they have the option to go into the workforce and do jobs that they would have never been allowed to do before the feminist movements.

Popular TV and film actress Shailene Woodly once stated, “I am not a feminist because I love men, and I think the idea of ‘raise women to power, take the men away from the power’ is never going to work out because you need balance. My biggest thing is really sisterhood more than feminism.”

Other well-known female celebrities who do not identify as feminists because they believe the word has too much of a negative connotation include: Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Carrie Underwood, Lana Del Ray, Taylor Swift, Susan Sarandon, Sarah Jessica Parker and Demi Moore.

Being a non-feminist today does not necessarily mean that you do not believe in women or equality.

What comes next for Feminists?

In the last few years, the U.S. has seen more women come into political positions, occupying almost 20 percent of government seats. We watched former first lady Hillary Clinton come close to taking the presidency. We are seeing more and more females in professions that used to be entirely made up of males, such as engineering and robotics.

We may not see total equality just yet, and Clinton may have lost to President Trump in the election, but she and countless others show how far a woman can go.

The Women’s March in Washington, D.C. this past January showed a massive turnout in the streets of Capitol Hill. The large number of men and women who participated in this march showed us that many still believe there is inequality between genders not only in this country but across the world.